the Cape Ceplialodiscus. 237 



The zoold itself was more easily detached, and many were 

 seen secured only by tlie buds; on one or two occasions, 

 indeed, the wiiole cluster of buds and zooid was observed 

 susjjended in mid-water by the much drawn out and attenuated 

 stalk of a bud, which was securely attached to the coenoecium 

 by its sucker-like proboscis. The poiiit of weakness was 

 apparently the proximal end of the stalk of the bud, for after 

 a time some of the large buds were seen to break at this 

 point, and ultimately many isolated buds were found scattered 

 over the general surface. Isolated buds were also seen on 

 some of the rather damaged specimens, and these had probably 

 been separated from their zooids by the rough usage and 

 movement of the surrounding water in the process of capture. 

 Sometimes the rupture of the stalk was near the proboscis, 

 and isolated proboscides were occasionally seen. No isolated 

 buds were seen wliich could not be accounted for in this way. 



In some of the specimens examined, the zooids with their 

 buds were withdrawn from their tubes with the aid of a pair 

 of forceps, and there appeared to be more zooids than one in 

 such groups. Previous observers have seen only one zooid 

 in one tube in the section of the genus to which this species 

 belongs, and so constant has been this observation that the 

 name ^'' Idiothecia'* (3) has been proposed for this section, 

 wiiich is characterized by the fact, which the name implies, 

 that only one individual zooid inhabits a tube. I therefore 

 supposed that, in removing the group from its tube, I had 

 taken a number of free zooids which had become entwined 

 with each other at the mouth of a tube, as often happened 

 amongst loose individuals in the material procured. A more 

 careful examination, however, of some of the preserved 

 material, in which zooids and buds are often found witlidrawn 

 into their tubes, confirmed the original observation. Here, in 

 several cases, three or four zooids were found projecting from 

 the ajjerture of one tube, part of their visceral region and all 

 the buds being contained within the tube. These were sexually 

 mature, with well-developed gonads, and, as far as could be 

 made out, were quite independent of each other, though where 

 they were embedded in the tube the buds were more or less 

 interwoven, forming a solid mass, which was difficult to 

 disentangle without making sure that no connection was 

 broken. 



Cilia, Mode of Feeding, etc. 



When examined under the microscope the living animals 

 are seen to be provided with short cilia, occurring, so far as 

 could be observed, on all parts of the body and stalk, both of 



